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OTTAWA — The opposition renewed demands Thursday for an audit of Canada's food inspection system following reports about an inspection agency memo that seems to suggest the safety of meat bound for Japan trumps the safety of meat intended for sale here.

The internal memo from 2008 was written by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency meat hygiene supervisor at XL Foods, the company at the centre of the recent E. coli outbreak and subsequent nationwide beef recall.

The NDP and Liberals have long called on the government to follow through on the recommendations of the investigation into the 2008 Listeria crisis, including an audit of the food safety system.

In 2010, former CFIA president Carole Swan confirmed the department only completed a "review" of the system.

Opposition renews call for outside audit of food safety system

The opposition renewed demands Thursday for an audit of Canada's food inspection system following reports about an inspection agency memo that seems to suggest the safety of meat bound for Japan trumps the safety of meat intended for sale here.

The internal memo from 2008 was written by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency meat hygiene supervisor at XL Foods, the company at the centre of the recent E. coli outbreak and subsequent nationwide beef recall.